It’s already being called one of the greatest NBA Slam Dunk Contests ever. Yes, we’re slaves to the moment and it’s always dangerous to make such proclamations without the requisite perspective, but there’s a good argument for it. Never has a dunk contest had more than one “overtime” period, forcing the contestants to dig deep and push themselves to new improvisational heights. A very compelling display and a worthy champion in the young Zach LaVine. Thanks as always for following it with us.

Zach LaVine, Dunk No6 (Second dunk-off): 50

LaVine runs from half-court and takes off from one step inside the free-throw line, goes between the legs and throws it down with his right hand. He’s mobbed by team-mates and hangers-on ... but there seems to be debate among the commentariat on whether it will be enough. And it is. A perfect 50 and LaVine, who turns 21 in March, is a two-time NBA slam dunk champion.

Aaron Gordon, Dunk No6 (Second dunk-off): 47

Gordon surges up from the baseline, cocks it behind his head as if he’s going in for a tomahawk, but changes his mind mid-air and goes beneath for a two-handed reverse. What elevation. Magic and Shaq gives scores of 10, but McGrady, Mutombo and Gervin turn in scores of nine: a total of 47. An opening for LaVine.

Zach LaVine, Dunk No5 (Dunk-off): 50

We’re headed to double overtime – the second round of a dunk-off – after LaVine just threw down the sixth consecutive 50 we’ve seen in this contest, which must be a record. LaVine threw the ball from behind the basket, caught it, threaded it between the legs and finished with a reverse. Insane.

Aaron Gordon, Dunk No4: 50 (championship round total of 100)

Gordon runs from the baseline, jumps completely over the mascot, grabs the ball, threads it behind his ankles before bringing it up and flushing it home. He was in a seated position when he received the ball. One of the greatest dunks I’ve ever seen. Easy 50.

Aaron Gordon, Dunk No3: 50

We’re into the championship round and scores will be reset. With Stuff the Magic Dragon literally spinning on a hoverboard in the paint like a demented carousel, Gordon times his run into the lane, grabs the ball and throws down a one-handed dunk after spinning mid-air. It’s a perfect 50. LaVine will be pushed tonight.

Zach LaVine, Dunk No2: 49 (99 overall)

LaVine attempts the iconic dunk from the free-throw line ... but with a twist. Rather than carry the ball himself, he receives an alley-oop pass mid-air from Andre Miller and throws it down. Haven’t seen that one before. He missed the first one but made the second. Really a breathtaking display of athleticism, and he’s got two dunks left. Just like the last scoring, each gives a score of 10 except for Shaq, who scores it a nine. A 49 for LaVine gives him 99 for the first round. LaVine and Gordon will advance.

Aaron Gordon, Dunk No2: 49 (94 overall)

Gordon jumps over the Magic’s plush mascot Stuff the Magic Dragon (who is standing on a hoverboard), collects the ball and throws down a two-handed dunk. Every judge gives him a 10 except for Shaq, whose nine leaves Gordon with a score of 49 – and a total of 94 for the first round.

Will Barton, Dunk No2: 30 (74 overall)

Barton is trying to bounce the ball on the approach, collect it and do a 360-degree spin and reverse move in one motion. It’s an insanely ambitious dunk and he misses it a handful of times before trying something more attainable, but eventually taps out as the judges give him the minimum score of 30. Call it the LaVine Effect: his opponent’s know they need to deliver something extraordinary to even compete.

Andre Drummond, Dunk No2: 39 (75 overall)

Andre Drummond’s first dunk contest is fast turning into a nightmare. He’s enlisted accomplished amateur soccer player Steve Nash to try and rainbow the ball to him for a dunk, but the two can’t seem to connect on it. After a few missed attempts Drummond finally throws one down to tepid cheers. But it looks like the judges have given him a significant bonus for degree of difficulty, scoring it a 39 for a total score of 75.

Aaron Gordon, Dunk No1: 45

Aaron Gordon emerges in full dress wear, tearing it away to reveal his Orlando Magic uniform. Gordon does a dunk somewhat similar to Barton’s, a 180-degree one-handed reverse going through the legs. Nines across the board from the judges for a 45.

Andre Drummond, Dunk No1: 36

Andre Drummond is next up. He narrates a montage that’s playing in the arena, saying that he first dunked when he was 12. So even more common ground between us. Now the seven-footer emerges to Eminem’s Lose Yourself, bringing the D to GTA. Drummond misses his first attempt. Then his second. Then finally flushes down his third, running from behind the baseline, bouncing it to himself and putting down a one-handed reverse.

Will Barton, Dunk No1: 44

Denver’s Will Barton emerges with a handful of dancers in full costume and makeup doing the Thriller dance. A crowd-pleasing MJ tribute. Barton then explodes toward the rim, goes through the legs while pivoting mid-air and throwing down a reverse jam. The judges score it a 44.

Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons, 7ft 0in, 279lbs

The rules

Overview

There are five judges. For each dunk, a score from six to 10 will be given by each judge, resulting in a maximum score of 50 and a minimum score of 30.

For each scored dunk in both rounds – Dunks No1 and No2 in the first round and Dunks No1 and No2 in the final round – each dunker will be limited to three attempts to complete his dunk. An attempt is defined as the player controlling the basketball and moving it towards the rim.

The use of any props or other people in any way during the contest must be approved in advance of the competition by the NBA Basketball Operations department.

Instant replay may be utilized for rules compliance at the discretion of the referee.

First Round – Two dunks (No1 and No2)

The competition order for Dunk No2 of the first round will be determined by the inverse order of the Dunk No1 scores (e.g. the player with the lowest score on Dunk No1 will go first for Dunk No2).

The two dunkers with the highest combined scores (Dunk No1 + Dunk No2) will advance to the final round.

Final Round – Two dunks (No1 and No2)

For Dunk No1 in the final round, the order of competition will be determined by a live coin flip.

The player who records the highest composite score in the first round is given the opportunity to choose heads or tails.

The winner of the coin flip will choose to go first or second for Dunk No1.

The competition order for Dunk No2 of the final round will be determined by the inverse order of the Dunk No1 scores (e.g. the player with the lowest score on Dunk No1 will go first for Dunk No2).

The dunker with the highest final round composite score (Dunk No1 + Dunk No2) will be the Dunk Champion.

Tiebreakers

In the event a first-round tie needs to be broken in order to to determine one or both of the top two finishers, a one-dunk “dunk-off” involving the tied players will take place to determine which player(s) will advance to the final round.

In the event of a tie in the final round, a one-dunk “dunk-off” will take place to determine the champion. Any dunk-off will be repeated as necessary until the tie is broken.

Preamble

Hello and welcome to tonight’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. We’re into the championship round of the Three-Point Contest, which is the last event of All-Star Saturday Night before the dunk competition, so it won’t be much longer now.

Stand by for a quick overview of the rules and a look at tonight’s four contestants.